Friday (November 22): Congress and other opposition parties in Rajya Sabha today raised the issue of electoral bonds but the Chairman of the House refused to take it up.
Opposition parties gave several notices under Rule 267 seeking setting aside of the business to take up the issue after news reports suggested that the Finance Ministry overruled objections of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the bonds.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, however, said he has examined the issue and it was not important enough to set aside the business.
He, however, said members could seek a debate or raise it under different rules.
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said members normally do not invoke Rule 267 unless demanded by the gravity and seriousness of the issue.
He demanded that the business be suspended and government be asked to make full disclosures.
Naidu overruled him, saying he receives an average of 4-5 267 notices every second day and cannot set aside business every time.
Opposition members were not satisfied and continued to raise the issue. CPI (M)’s T K Rangarajan termed electoral bonds as a “big scam”.
As members continued to speak, Naidu threatened to adjourn proceedings if they continued.
The issue of electoral bonds has snowballed into a political flash point following reports based on RTI response of the government which stated that the RBI and the Election Commission had reservations over them, but were overruled by the Modi government.
Introduction of electoral bonds has made government corruption official: Congress
